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Blue Jays rumors: Edwin Encarnacion sets Spring Training deadline for extension

By Kyle Franzoni

Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hits a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the 6th inning in game five of the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hits a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the 6th inning in game five of the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Blue Jays will have a Spring Training deadline to work out an extension with first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion.

The Toronto Blue Jays will enter the 2016 season looking to repeat as the American League East champions. However, while working on reclaiming the division title will be forefront for the team, the front office will also have some work to do on the business side as well.

Both right fielder Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have been playing the last several seasons under very team friendly contracts. Unfortunately for Toronto, both of those deals are set to expire at the end of the 2016 season and the team will need to decide how much it will spend to bring both back for in 2017 and beyond.

While Bautista would seem to be the more obvious of the two to score the bigger extension, Toronto will still explore the market for Encarnacion as well. However, they are seemingly under the gun to make a deal happen with the first baseman sooner than later, per Rob Bradford of WEEI, who is noting that Encarnacion has set a Spring Training deadline for such a deal.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old Encarnacion is playing the last year of a three year, $29 million deal he signed with the team prior to the 2013 season. Since then, he has been a two-time All Star while hitting .272/.366/.546. His 109 home runs is third in that span and his 313 RBI place his fifth in the league since 2013.

The question is how much that will be worth for a player nearing the end of his days in the field. As such, the current deal that David Ortiz is playing under, two years at $32 million, would be a likely starting point for an aging hitter with some health concerns. Toronto may be hesitant to engage in anything larger, especially with Josh Donaldson likely due an extension and Bautista’s contract also an issue at season’s end.

Bradford notes that the Boston Red Sox could potentially be interested if Encarnacion were to hit the open market next winter. With Ortiz retiring at the end of the season, Boston will need to fill the DH hole if they don’t intend on moving Hanley Ramirez or Pablo Sandoval into it first.

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